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So what if SIG SAUER’s P238 passed the holster/carry test. If it shoots poorly, you won’t carry it. Thankfully, a 100-round range session proved that it not only shoots reliably, but also is quite accurate and easy to manipulate, control-wise.
You know the deal: Micro carry guns sometimes get so micro that they’re just not worth the hassle. Even when chambered in the relatively docile .380, some have a bark and bit that border on unpleasant. Moreover, some are so small that getting your mitts around them is more frustrating than functional. Finally, some don’t do their part in helping you hit the broad side of a barn, let alone a steel silhouette.
At my recent range session, the SIG P238 earned three big points from me: one for the highly visible sights, one for the easily flicked thumb safety, and one for how easy it was to shoot — and score. Worth a mention: The gun’s seven-round capacity, extended magazine that accommodated my pinky, and the great single-action trigger.
The sights are tough as nails, clear white dots by day, and steady green dots in low light. Tactically, if you need to rack the slide using the rear sight against your boot or a table, you can. But, practically, they really excelled at the more mundane work of helping you align the gun with your target. Great to see (literally) sights that are as bold as these on a smaller gun.
Small guns have small controls and the P238’s thumb safety took a bit of getting used to before it became second nature. But sweeping it off (and even back on) worked very well, despite only being the nub that it is.
Best feature: Easy to shoot and accurate. Shooting the P238 was great because you just picked it up and shot it. No fussing because it was too small. No flinching because it had too much bark. Just clang, clang, clang as the rounds hit the steel.
With an MSRP of $833 the Spartan shoots and scores. Every time.
— Mark Kakkuri
